Dr Konstantin Frank Winery | winetogousa

Dr. Konstantin Frank ignited the “Vinifera Revolution” a movement that forever changed the course of wine growing in the Finger Lakes and the United States. Dr. Frank’s vision, knowledge and determination are credited with elevating the New York wine industry from a state of happy mediocrity to a level that today commands world attention.

Dr. Konstantin Frank earned his Ph.D. in Viticulture from Odessa, Ukraine in 1930 and became a leading expert in his field throughout Eastern Europe. Having survived through two World Wars and the Russian Revolution, Dr. Frank immigrated to New York in 1951 at the age of 52-years-old with empty pockets and no knowledge of English, in the hope of creating a brighter future for his family. 

He fell in love with a special property in the Finger Lakes for its exceptional characteristics – poor soils and steep slopes. With decades of knowledge and experience, Dr. Frank successfully planted the first European grape varieties in the Eastern United States in 1958. 

In 1962, merely a decade after arriving in America, Dr. Frank founded Vinifera Wine Cellars. The winery quickly earned a reputation for spectacular Rieslings and its original planting of vines formed the backbone of New York’s world-class wines and champagnes.

Konstantin’s vision was always to have his legacy carried out by his family. He dreamed of his children, grand children, and now great-grand children, taking care of the land. The story is in our family blood, in the very vines that were planted in 1958, the soil, and the grapes. Each season, each vintage adds a new layer to our story.